Loading device for breech-loading firearms.



No. 863,798. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

' G. S. H0DGES. LOADING DEVICE FOR BREEGH LOADING FIREARMS.

APPLICATION I'ILED 81119129. 1908.

L Mm cm. WASHINGTON, n. :4

Fig. 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

GEORGE SOHUYLER HODGES, OF PONTIAC, MICHIGAN.

LOADING DEVICE FOR BREFIGH-LOADING FI REARMS. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SoHuYLEn Honens, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pontiac, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading Devices for Breech-Loading Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a loading device for breech loading firearms, and it is embodied in the construction and arrangement of parts presently to be described and defined in the claims.

The invention is designed more particularly for the purpose of rapid and accurate reloading or recharging of a breech loading shot gun, that is for quick placement of the shells in the gun, more particularly after the gun has been fired and it is desired to load quickly and promptly.

While the invention is more particularly designed for breech loading shot guns, manifestly its useful application is not so limited. Heretofore, a sportsman after discharging his gun, whether it be a single or double barrel shot gun, has usually been required to select his cartridges from his pocket or his cartridge belt and place them in the barrels ready for subsequent use. It is not infrequent that a sportsman has occasion to reload with great rapidity so as to be able to quickly discharge his gun, that is before the game has disappeared. This result is attained by the modern automatic as well as what is commonly known as pump guns.

The present invention is designed to render the usual double barrel breech loading shot gun useful for rapid subsequent firing of two or more shots if a single barrel, and three or more shots if a double barrel, thus rendering the usual breech loading shot gun quite as satisfactory as a repeater of the type above mentioned.

Illustrative of the invention, I have shown in the ac-v companying drawing a preferred form of loading device or holder and also slight modified forms, but it is to be understood that various changes and wide departures may be made in the construction without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loading device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same with two cartridges placed in position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the method of using the construction shown in the other figures. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form designed to accommodate four cartridges, and, Fig. 7 is a sectional view through one of the clips of the construction shown in Fig. 6.

The reloading or charging device isdesigned particularly as a form of cartridge holder with means for Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 29, 1906. Serial No. 336,784.

Patented Aug, 20, 1907.

placing the same on the finger otthe operator, so that in firing the gun, the two cartridges carried by the recharger or leader, will not interfere with the operators handling of the gun, and yet be in proper position for immediate use for recharging.

The preferred construction illustrated in Fig. 1 consists of a single blank of metal, conveniently steel having the form of two clips A, A, each comprising the outer lips or ears and inner tongues awith a bowed or bent-up portion 11. These ears are so fashioned as to form spring clips to embrace the cartridges on opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 2, and to retain the cartridges within the clip against accidental displacement. B designates a ring formed of the metal of the clip and bent outward, the same embracing a sleeve 0 of any suitable material which is designed to fit the finger of the user. The sleeve G is secured in the ring B by having a circumferential channel 0 cut therein in which the ring or loop B is seated. Projecting rearwardly from the clip or holder are the stops D, the same extending slightly upward to form a back-stop for the cartridge end,,.and are also crimped slightly as at d in which crimp the rim of the cartridge projects to prevent sliding.

In Fig. 3 the same construction is shown as in Fig. 1, with the exception that the bowed part a is omitted and in lieu thereof the tongue parts a are duplicated, as at a Manifestly either construction will be useful, the purpose of the construction being to hold the cartridge in place and yet permit an easy removal by a slight twist or withdrawal of the holder or loader as the ends of the cartridges are placed in the gun.

In Fig. 6 I have shown an additional modified form wherein the holder is of the form shown in Fig. 1 with the exception that both connecting parts or inner tongues E are joined as at a in Fig. 1. This modified form is also constructed of a single piece of metal and is of av width somewhat greater than the clip portions of the form shown in Fig. 1. The outer part F is made with inwardly projecting parts f and centrally between the ends is formed an inwardly projecting rib f which serves as a back-stop to the cartridge ends, as shown in Fig. 7. At the sides of the rib f are slight depres sions f in which the rim of the cartridge fits. In this form, the construction serves as a clip to hold the cartridges in place, and the cartridges can be placed butt to butt in opposite sides, four of them constituting the load for the reloading device.

In operation, the sportsman or user first loads his gun and then places the two cartridges in the reloading device, slipping the sleeve over the fingers of his hand, conveniently with the rim end of the cartridges towards the end of the fingers. Upon firing the gun, the operator immediately breaks the same which releases the blank cartridges and having the other two cartridges contained in the reloading device on his fingers, the

operator can at once insert them in the barrel and so very rapidly and accurately. Inthis particular, it is to be noted that upon a twisting gnovement of the reloading device, the cartridges are released with ease 'and will either slide into the barrels or be forced in by believe, however, that I am the first to conceive of a device which can be carried by the hand or attached to the hand of the operator and so in a position as not to interfere with the operation of firing the gun, and yet be in handy position for reloading.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A reloading device for breech loading guns comprising a clip adapted to engage the body portion of a cartridge, and means for preventing rearward longitudinal movement of the cartridge in the clip.

2. A reloading device for breech loading guns compris ing a plurality of spring clips, a ring connecting the same, and a back projection on each clip.

3. A reloading cartridge holding device comprising a plurality of cartridge holding members fashioned to each embrace a portion 01' a cartridge, a band or ring extending from the same, and a sleeve secured to the band or ring.

4. A reloading device for breech loading guns comprising a clip, a member connected thereto adapted to receive the finger of the user, and a back projection for said clip.

5. A reloading device for breech loading guns compris ing a clip, a band or ring integral with said clip and extending therefrom, and a back projection for said clip.

6. A cartridge holder formed of a single piece of metal comprising a plurality of cartridge holding clips, and a band or ring extending from the backs of said clips.

7. A cartridge holder formed of a single piece of metal comprising a plurality of cartridge holding clips, a band or ring extending from the backs of said clips, and a back projection for said clips.

8. A cartridge holder formed of a single piece of metal, comprising a clip fashioned to embrace a portion of the body of the cartridge, and a'finger piece extending from the back of said clip.

5). A cartridge holder formed of a single piece of metal, comprising a clip fashioned to embrace a portion of the body of the cartridge, and a finger ring struck up from the back of said clip.

10. A cartridge holder formed of a single piece of metal, comprising a plurality of cartridge holding clips, having their connecting portion struck up to form a finger piece.

11. A cartridge holder, comprising a clip, a band or ring extending therefrom, and a sleeve secured within said band or ring.

12. A reloading device for breech-loading guns, comprising a clip adapted to engage the body portion of a cartridge, means for preventing rearward longitudinal movement of said cartridge in said clip, and a finger piece extending from said clip.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE SCHUYLER HODGES.

Witnesses SAMUEL J. PATTERSON, LUCILE AVERY. 

